JPH11130214A - Pallet and case conveyors in automated warehouse equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] To reduce the space and cost of a picking station. SOLUTION: When shipping a load stored in an automatic warehouse 1 which is provided in an automatic warehouse 1 including a multi-row / multi-stage shelf 1d, a stacker crane 2, equipment for loading and unloading 1c and the like, A transfer device for the pallets 14 and the cases 17 in an automatic warehouse facility for performing the picking work for sorting the empty pallets 14 and the sorting of the cases 17. The picking work for sorting the empty pallets 14 and the packing for the empty pallets 14. Is carried out on the same worktable 6 in a time zone, and the pallets 14 that have been picked up and packed are passed through the pallet transport line 15 to the pallet shipping line on the downstream side, and the sorted and picked cases 17a are passed downstream through the case transport line 16. Each case is transported to the case shipping line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pallet and case transfer device in an automatic warehouse facility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automated warehouses are intended to increase the space storage ratio by increasing the shelves for storing cargo, and to increase the space storage ratio. It is composed of a management device and the like. The loaded cargo is determined by the inventory management device on the shelf where the cargo is to be stored, and is conveyed to the entrance of the shelf aisle that is moved in and out by the storage and retrieval device.
It is stored on a shelf by a stacker crane. To issue goods, input the information of the goods to be ejected to the inventory management device and check it against the management information.
The corresponding shelf is searched out and a delivery command is given to the stacker crane. The load taken out of the shelf by the stacker crane is sent to a loading / unloading table provided in front of the automatic warehouse, and is moved from the loading / unloading table onto a movable cart. In addition, the load that has been moved on this mobile trolley, after being moved to the picking station, in the picking station, the load picking work and sorting picking work is performed, load reloading and combination conversion is performed, It is shipped in units such as order units and product type units.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a pallet and case transfer device in a conventional automatic warehouse facility. In the figure, a is a three-dimensional automatic warehouse. Reference numeral b denotes a shelf of the three-dimensional automatic warehouse a, which is configured in multiple rows and multiple stages. Each shelf b stores the load on a pallet. c is in the longitudinal direction of shelf b,
It is a stacker crane that travels along a shelf b. d is a storage conveyor provided in front of the three-dimensional automatic warehouse a,
“e” denotes a delivery conveyor arranged in parallel with the storage conveyor d.
f is an entrance / exit table provided between the entrance conveyor d and the exit conveyor e. g is an annular rail provided between the picking station i and h is a plurality of movable trucks moving on the rail g. The load is taken out from the shelf b together with the pallet by the stacker crane c, and is conveyed from the delivery conveyor e by the movable cart h. Reference numeral o denotes a picking conveyor for transferring the load conveyed by the movable cart h from the movable cart h to the picking station i. j is an empty pallet supply conveyor. Reference numeral k denotes an empty pallet separating device for separating the empty pallets p stacked and transferred one by one and sending out the empty pallets to the empty pallet supply conveyor j. Reference numeral m denotes a workbench for carrying out an unpacking picking operation on an empty pallet p. The load conveyed together with the pallets by the picking conveyor o is loaded and picked by the operator u on the empty pallets p. Reference numeral n denotes a pallet carry-out conveyor for carrying out the pallets (actual pallets) picked and picked up to a downstream shipping line, and is provided below the rail g in the figure. The load left on the pallet after the picking of the load is returned to the movable carriage h from the return line of the picking conveyor o, transported by the movable carriage h, returned to the automatic three-dimensional warehouse a, and stored in the shelf b. . q is the load (case) t conveyed along with the pallet by the movable cart h
Is a picking conveyor that transfers and conveys from a movable carriage h. r is a sorting and picking worktable. Case t
Are sorted and picked by the operator u, and are unloaded from the case unloading conveyor s to the downstream shipping line in case units. The case t remaining on the pallet after sorting and picking is returned to the movable carriage h from the return line of the picking conveyor q, transported by the movable carriage h, returned to the automatic three-dimensional warehouse a, and stored in the shelf b. .

[0004]

However, the pallet and case transporting apparatus in the automatic warehouse equipment shown in FIG. 5 has a work table for aligning and picking loads on empty pallets and a work table for sorting and picking loads (cases). Since the stand and the pallet are provided separately and the empty pallet supply conveyors are arranged side by side, there is a problem that the effective space of the picking station is increased and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a single work table is used as a load picking work table and a sorting pick work table. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet and case transport device in an automatic warehouse facility that can perform an operation and a sorting and picking operation by dividing a time zone to save space and reduce costs.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a multi-row
Installed in an automated warehouse consisting of multi-tiered shelves, stacker cranes, equipment for loading and unloading, etc., when shipping loads stored in the automated warehouse, load sorting to empty pallets and sorting of cases A pallet and case transport device in an automatic warehouse facility that performs picking work. The pallet that performs picking work on empty pallets and sorting and sorting of cases on the same workbench, separated by time, and pallets that have been picked and picked. The pallet and case transporter in an automatic warehouse facility that transports the sorted and picked cases to the downstream case shipping line through the case transport line through the pallet transport line to the downstream pallet shipping line, respectively. Provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the work table is lowered by a lifter provided at a lower portion when receiving an empty pallet, and is connected to an empty pallet supply conveyor on the upstream side so that the loaded pallet can be loaded. It can be raised and lowered so as to be connected to the pallet and case discharge conveyor on the downstream side, and a roller conveyor and a pair of chain conveyors are arranged in front of the roller conveyor on the upper surface of the work table. And rises during load picking and sorting picking work on the left, right, and middle of the chain conveyor,
When transporting a pallet or case, it is preferable to dispose a work plate that can be moved up and down to move the pallet or case down onto the chain conveyor.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. When packing and picking a load on an empty pallet and shipping it,
The stacker crane takes out the load placed on the pallets and stored on the shelves of the automatic warehouse,
The pick-up conveyor of the picking station moves from the pick-up conveyor of the picking station to the elevator platform from the delivery conveyor. At the picking station, the workbench is lowered by the lifter to receive an empty pallet from the empty pallet supply conveyor onto the workbench, the work plate is raised slightly above the top of the chain conveyor, and the empty pallet is placed on the work plate. The picking work is performed by the user on a blank pallet in units such as order units and product type units. When the pick-up operation is completed, the work plate is lowered, the actual pallets are transferred to the chain conveyor, and the pallets are transferred from the pallet discharge roller conveyor to the downstream pallet shipping line via the pallet / case discharge conveyor. The load remaining on the pallet after the picking of the load is returned to the mobile trolley from the return line of the picking conveyor, conveyed by the mobile trolley, returned to the automatic warehouse again, and stored on the shelf. On the other hand, when shipping loads in case units, the pallet load picking operation is stopped. Sorting and picking work is performed in the same manner as when the package is picked and shipped, and is sent from the case unloading roller conveyor to the downstream case shipping line via the pallet / case unloading conveyor, and shipped. The load remaining on the pallet after sorting and picking is returned to the mobile trolley, transported by the mobile trolley, returned to the automatic warehouse again, and stored on the shelf, as in the case of pallet picking.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4
1 is a diagram of a pallet and case transport device in an automatic warehouse facility, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet and case transport device in an automatic warehouse facility. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a view as viewed from the direction of arrows AA in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the work table.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic warehouse. 1a is a storage conveyor provided in front of the automatic warehouse 1;
b is an outgoing conveyor arranged in parallel with the incoming conveyor 1a (FIGS. 1 and 2). 1c is a loading / unloading table, and 1d is a shelf of the automatic warehouse 1 (FIG. 2). Reference numeral 2 denotes a stacker crane provided along the shelf 1d in the longitudinal direction of the shelf 1d.
a (FIG. 2). 3 is a picking station of the automatic warehouse 1. A picking conveyor 4 is provided between the automatic warehouse 1 and the picking station 3 along an annular rail 19 provided along the loading / unloading table 1a. Reference numeral 18 denotes a plurality of movable carts that move on an annular rail 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Reference numeral 5 denotes a lift table, which can be moved up and down by a lifter 5c. When picking up a conveyed load, the worker 20 can adjust the height so as to facilitate the work (FIG. 3). This elevator 5
A roller conveyor 5a and a pair of chain conveyors 5b are provided on the upper surface of the pair of chain conveyors 5a.
b is slightly raised by an elevating device (not shown) so that the traveling direction of the load conveyed by the picking conveyor 4 and the roller conveyor 5a is changed to a right angle direction and moves (FIGS. 1 and 2). .

Reference numeral 6 denotes a work table for performing a pallet load picking operation and a case sorting and picking operation. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation table 6 can be moved up and down by a lifter 6b disposed on a base 6a. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of chain conveyors 7 are provided on the upper surface of the worktable 6, and work plates 11 are disposed on the left and right and in the middle of the chain conveyor 7. Is provided with a roller conveyor 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, the chain conveyor 7 comprises a sprocket 7b provided at both ends of a rotating shaft 8c and an endless chain 7a wound around a sprocket 7c provided at a distance from the sprocket 7b. ing. Reference numeral 8 denotes a chain conveyor drive motor. 8
a is a drive shaft of the drive motor 8. 8b is a sprocket provided on the drive shaft 8a, and 8d is a sprocket provided on the rotary shaft 8c. 8e is sprocket 8
b and the endless chain hung around the sprocket 8d,
The drive shaft 8 is driven by the drive motor 8.

The roller conveyor 9 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a plurality of rollers 9a. 9b is a sprocket provided at one end of the roller 9a. Reference numeral 10 denotes a roller conveyor drive motor. 10a is a drive shaft of the drive motor 10. 10b is a sprocket provided on the drive shaft 10a. Reference numeral 10c denotes an endless chain wound around the sprocket 10b and the sprocket 9b, and drives the roller 9a by driving the drive motor 10.

The work plate 11 can be moved up and down by an elevating device which moves up and down by supplying and discharging air to a tube (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the work plate 11.

13 is a pallet / case carrying conveyor 12
The empty pallet 14 supplied from the upstream side is transferred to the work table 6 by an empty pallet supply conveyor provided at the lower stage (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a pallet carry-out roller conveyor provided adjacent to the pallet / case carry-out conveyor 12 so as to be orthogonal to the pallet-case carry-out conveyor 12. At a position orthogonal to 12, a pair of chain conveyors 15a which are moved up and down by a lifting device (not shown) is provided. Reference numeral 16 denotes a case carry-out roller conveyor provided so as to be orthogonal to the pallet carry-out roller conveyor 15. The pair of chain conveyors 15a transports the picked cases 17a to the pallet / case carrying conveyor 1.
When the pallet is received from the pallet discharge roller conveyor 15, it is slightly raised. On the other hand, when the sorted and picked case 17a is received from the pallet / case unloading conveyor 12, the case 17a is slightly elevated and received, and is transferred to the case unloading roller conveyor 16 while being lifted, and is unloaded to the downstream case shipping line. .

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
When the loads are loaded on the empty pallet 14 by picking and picking, the loads stored on the pallets on the shelves 1d of the automatic warehouse 1 are taken out together with the pallets by the stacker crane 2, and the trolleys are moved from the delivery conveyor 1b. 18 and is moved from the picking conveyor 4 of the picking station 3 to the elevator 5. Picking station 3
, The work table 6 is lowered by the lifter 6b, and the empty pallet 14 is moved from the empty pallet supply conveyor 14 onto the work table 6.
The work plate 11 is slightly raised from the upper surface of the chain conveyor 7 and the empty pallet 14 is placed on the work plate 11, and the worker 20 places the empty pallet 14 on the empty pallet 14 in units such as order units and product type units. A packing picking operation is performed. When the picking is completed, the work board 11
Is lowered from the upper surface of the chain conveyor 7, the actual pallet 14 is transferred to the chain conveyor 7, and the pallet carrying roller conveyor 1 is passed through the pallet / case carrying conveyor 12.
5 to the downstream pallet shipping line for shipment. The load remaining on the pallet after the picking of the load is returned to the movable carriage 18 from the return line of the picking conveyor 4, is transported by the movable carriage 18, and is again returned to the automatic warehouse 1.
And stored in the shelf 1d. On the other hand, when shipping the load in case units, the picking operation of the pallets 14 is stopped. Sorting and picking work is performed in the same manner as when the package is picked and shipped, and is sent from the case unloading roller conveyor 16 to the downstream case shipping line via the pallet / case unloading conveyor 12 for shipment. . The load remaining on the pallet after the sorting and picking is returned to the mobile trolley 18, conveyed by the mobile trolley 18, returned to the automatic warehouse 1, and stored in the shelf 1d in the same manner as in the pallet picking.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the unloading picking worktable and the sorting picking worktable are one in number.
The same work table is used, and the load picking work and the sorting picking work are performed in different time zones, so the flexibility of the work form and operation can be secured, and the space for the picking station can be saved. Excellent effects such as reduction in cost can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer device for pallets and cases in an automatic warehouse facility of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a work table.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged plan view of a pallet and case transfer device in a conventional automatic warehouse facility.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 3-dimensional automatic warehouse 2 Stutter crane 3 Picking station 4 Picking conveyor 5 Lifting stand 5a Roller conveyor 5b Chain conveyor 6 Work table 6b Lifter 7 Chain conveyor 8 Chain conveyor drive motor 9 Roller conveyor 10 Roller conveyor drive motor 11 Work plate 12 Pallet Case unloading conveyor 13 Empty pallet supply conveyor 14 Empty pallet 15 Pallet unloading conveyor 16 Case unloading conveyor 17 Case 18 Moving trolley 19 Rail 20 Worker

Claims (2)

[Claims] An automatic pallet is provided in an automatic warehouse composed of multi-row / multi-stage shelves, stacker cranes, equipment for loading / unloading, etc., and when loading a load stored in the automatic warehouse, the empty pallet is used. A pallet and case transport device for automatic warehouse equipment that performs picking and sorting of cases and picking work.It is a work platform that separates picking and sorting of empty pallets and picking of cases on the same workbench. In addition, the picked pallets are transferred to the downstream pallet shipping line through the pallet transport line, and the sorted and picked cases are transported to the downstream case shipping line through the case transport line. Pallet and case conveyor in automatic warehouse equipment. 2. The work table is lowered by a lifter provided at a lower portion when receiving an empty pallet and connected to an empty pallet supply conveyor on the upstream side, and is raised when a pallet on which a load is loaded is carried out. It can be moved up and down so as to be connected to the pallet / case unloading conveyor on the downstream side.
A roller conveyor and a pair of chain conveyors are disposed on the upper surface of the work table, and are moved up, down, left and right of the chain conveyor during the picking and sorting picking work to convey pallets and cases. 2. A pallet and case transport device in an automatic warehouse facility according to claim 1, further comprising a work plate capable of ascending and descending to move the pallets and cases placed on a chain conveyor when the pallets and cases are lowered.